A 62-year-old woman with ER+/HER2- node-positive breast cancer completes 5 years of adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy. The MA.17R trial supports extension of letrozole to how many total years to reduce late recurrence?
- A 10 years ✓
- B 7 years
- C 15 years
- D Indefinite lifelong therapy
Correct answer: A. 10 years
Explanation
The MA.17R trial evaluated extending letrozole from 5 to 10 years of total aromatase inhibitor therapy after initial tamoxifen plus 5 years of letrozole. It showed a significant reduction in recurrence risk, supporting 10 years of extended therapy for high-risk node-positive patients. The benefit must be weighed against increased osteoporosis risk. 15 years is not supported, and indefinite therapy is not standard practice.
Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.